With the potential to profit off of their name, image, and likeness, a college athlete may be forced to become creative in deciding how to use their resources most efficiently to make the most profit. However, as long as the athlete is happy with the time and resources that they put into creating an effective NIL deal with a business, they should be satisfied with the result. These are some of the most out-of-the-box ideas creative athletes can use to maximize NIL earnings. 

Partner with a blanket or onesie company

An athlete partnering with a blanket and/or onesie company has the chance to make an impact in an increasingly relaxed society. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the general public has become ever-attracted to comfortable clothing and attire. This mindset may allow an athlete to prosper off of a deal with their personal brand advertised on a blanket or the back of a onesie that can be used for all purposes, pandemic or not. 

Related: 6 Most Interesting NIL Deals

Partner with a pro sports team

Partnering with a pro sports team gives a college athlete the chance to showcase their talent and even make potential future plans (as long as there's no pay-for-play involved, per NCAA rules). By creating the link between a college sports and professional sports team, both teams have the opportunity for an influx of new fans and an increase in their own revenue. Plus, the athlete has the chance to profit off of these new fans as well. 

Send autographed memorabilia to fans

Created by NIL FanBox, some UNC men's and women's basketball players have had the opportunity to sign and send autographed memorabilia to fans. This idea allows the athletes to benefit, but at the same time, provides an opportunity to fans to purchase memorabilia from one of the top basketball programs in the country. The chance to directly buy autographed memorabilia in a safe and trusted way also provides a way for athletes to (indirectly) engage with fans, and it guarantees authentic autographs and gear for consumers. 

Related: Get Rich Quick: Who are the Top NIL Earners in College Sports?

Join the Metaverse

By joining the Metaverse as an NIL deal, a college athlete has the chance to make their mark in a largely undefined “world.” Since the Metaverse is increasingly growing, this opportunity has a lot of potential for college athletes to gain and even give input to. By partnering with an organization trying to enter the Metaverse or a Metaverse world itself, an athlete has the chance to attract an audience that may not otherwise be sports fans. 

These unique ideas can allow college athletes to maximize their earnings through NIL, and because NIL is growing at an increasingly fast rate, creative ideas have the potential to have the most success for athletes to maximize their profit. In all, as long as the athlete is happy with the time and effort that they put into securing and creating a NIL deal, they should be satisfied with the result they have. At the end of the day, your NIL is uniquely and exclusively yours–so make it count.

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* Originally published on August 2, 2022, by Caleb Myers